Barry- Thank you for a link to this map, this will be very helpful in the future.
Profdant- I agree it is very cumbersome to cross-reference multiple maps. Here is my method and a few things that might be helpful. I have a truck camper and when I go out I am looking for areas to ride my motorcycle (street legal dual sport) and frequently use MVUMs. I know you are more of a hiker and might be seeking slightly different locations.
I start in a different direction from you. I first locate an area that I know has a large forest service road system and hopefully some true motorcycle single track. Since forest service websites can be hit and miss depending on district I start with google searching 2 phrases. "MVUM + the general area of interest", and "recreational opportunities guide + area of interest". Once I find an area that has legal motor access to the forest I then go to google maps/earth and start exploring from above. Some districts will post a Map Index which will show the relation of the different maps. If the district doesn't offer the map index, I find where a forest service road meets the regular road on the MVUM and search for the intersection on google maps.
If you only have a pin dropped on google maps I find that the quickest way to match up the two areas is using publiclands.org in a second tab, locate an easy to find area on both maps, and then use publiclands.org to follow the road of interest to make sure it does not cross over any private property. There is an area near me in the los padres nf that is listed on the MVUM as open but it crosses private property and the owner never opens his gate to allow access. Luckily I did not drive a long distance to discover this blocked path.
One really handy app is Avenza Maps ( I use it on android, not sure if it is for iphone too). The free version of this app will allow you to have 3 maps loaded into it. If you download the MVUMs to your android phone and then import them into Avenza Maps, the app uses the gps on your phone to put a marker on the MVUM of your location and allows you to drop a pin to mark a location directly on the MVUM. I find this helpful once I am exploring the area to see exactly where I am within the forest service road system. I have also been able to load hiking and mountain biking maps into the app which was a nice surprise.
I am sure you are aware of most of these tools but that is how I use them together to find my way around the forest.
Am I missing any cool tools that you use?
I just got back from the High Sierra Ranger District this last weekend. This district has a very well put together website with lots of maps and relevant info. The Tamarack area just below Huntington lake was not very crowded where Shaver Lake was a madhouse. Also, out Dinkey creek road, to the Courtright reservoir was a very nice drive on paved roads with plenty of forest service roads to explore. Here is a pic from standing on the Courtright dam.
Profdant- I agree it is very cumbersome to cross-reference multiple maps. Here is my method and a few things that might be helpful. I have a truck camper and when I go out I am looking for areas to ride my motorcycle (street legal dual sport) and frequently use MVUMs. I know you are more of a hiker and might be seeking slightly different locations.
I start in a different direction from you. I first locate an area that I know has a large forest service road system and hopefully some true motorcycle single track. Since forest service websites can be hit and miss depending on district I start with google searching 2 phrases. "MVUM + the general area of interest", and "recreational opportunities guide + area of interest". Once I find an area that has legal motor access to the forest I then go to google maps/earth and start exploring from above. Some districts will post a Map Index which will show the relation of the different maps. If the district doesn't offer the map index, I find where a forest service road meets the regular road on the MVUM and search for the intersection on google maps.
If you only have a pin dropped on google maps I find that the quickest way to match up the two areas is using publiclands.org in a second tab, locate an easy to find area on both maps, and then use publiclands.org to follow the road of interest to make sure it does not cross over any private property. There is an area near me in the los padres nf that is listed on the MVUM as open but it crosses private property and the owner never opens his gate to allow access. Luckily I did not drive a long distance to discover this blocked path.
One really handy app is Avenza Maps ( I use it on android, not sure if it is for iphone too). The free version of this app will allow you to have 3 maps loaded into it. If you download the MVUMs to your android phone and then import them into Avenza Maps, the app uses the gps on your phone to put a marker on the MVUM of your location and allows you to drop a pin to mark a location directly on the MVUM. I find this helpful once I am exploring the area to see exactly where I am within the forest service road system. I have also been able to load hiking and mountain biking maps into the app which was a nice surprise.
I am sure you are aware of most of these tools but that is how I use them together to find my way around the forest.
Am I missing any cool tools that you use?
I just got back from the High Sierra Ranger District this last weekend. This district has a very well put together website with lots of maps and relevant info. The Tamarack area just below Huntington lake was not very crowded where Shaver Lake was a madhouse. Also, out Dinkey creek road, to the Courtright reservoir was a very nice drive on paved roads with plenty of forest service roads to explore. Here is a pic from standing on the Courtright dam.
